Beet-slicer.



PATENTED SEPT 8, 1903. w. KGLLMANN, BEET SLIGER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1902.

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PATENTS-D SEPT. 8, 1903. W. KULLMANN.

BEET SLIGER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1902.

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PATENTE'D SEP'IL'S, 1903-. W; KQLLMANN.

BEET SLIGBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9., 1902.

N0 MODEL.

' M'f n asses der that the roots may be seized and sliced m. 738,616. ve

' UNITED STATES Qllatented September a, 19cc.

PATENT GFFICE.

WILHELM KGLLMANN, OF BARMEN, GERMANY.

BEET-SLICER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,616, datedSeptember 8, 1903. i

Application filed my 9, 1902.

To aZZ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILHELM KoLLMANN, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, residing at Barmen, in the Province of Rhenish Prussia, in theKingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Beet-Slicers, of which the following is a specification.

Hitherto in the manufacture of sugar from beet-s it has been thepractice to slice the roots for further treatment in machines in whichabove a knife-disk rotating at the bottom of the hopper orbeet-receptaclea number of sta tionary check-pieces are arranged, so asto obstruct the path of the beets carried around by the rotary motion ofthe knife-disk in orby the knives. This arrangement, however, is verydefective, since only a fractional part of the beets which come beforethe knife is cut, the larger part rising at the check-pieces and beinggiven a vertical or whirling motion. This inconvenience increases thesmaller the number of beets in the hopper. Thus when the latter isnearly empty it takes a long time before the last roots are sliced.

A further defect is that the beets are apt to choke in the hopper andfail to fall upon the knife-disk, above which empty spaces are ac-'cordingly formed, at which of course no slicing goes on until finallysome root becomes displaced and allows the remainder to fall.

Machines have been constructed with distributors (c. g. that describedin German patent specification, No. 24,963) rotating in the receptaclein a contrary direction to the slicing-disk. This arrangement, however,only really hinders the formation of hollow spaces above thecheck-pieces and not in the compartments of the hopper above theknifedisk. Furthermore, the rigid check -piece's prevent fullutilization of the cutting-surface of the knife-disk, inasmuch as theknives are inoperative each time they pass the checks. All theseinconveniences are overcome by the slicer forming the subject of myinvention and illustrated in the annexed drawings. In my machine thebeets are set in rotation by the aid of check-pieces having a retrogrademotion-71. e., rotating in a direction contrary Serial No. 114,953. (Nomodel.)

to that of the knife-disk. Further, the roots are pressed against theknife-disk owing to the checks having a spiral form.

Spiral ribs in the receptacle of machines having an nularly-disposedknives are already 5 5 known, (6. 9., through German patentspecification, No. 21,748,) but such are not employed as checks to stopthe motion of the roots, but for the purpose of throwing the latteragainst the knives in consequence of the centrifugal force.

In the appended drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of my slicer.Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the upper portion of a modified form ofconstruction, the shaft of the knife-disk being rotated by gearinglocated above the receptacle. Fig. 2 is a detail view. showing thespiral form of the check-pieces. Fig. 3 is a part vertical section of amodified construction. of the machine where the checkpieces are providedwith spur-teeth. Fig. 4 is a similar part vertical section of a furthermodification of the machine, bevel-teeth being provided on thecheck'pieces.

a is the receptacle into which the beets are I fed, a being thedriving-shaft of the knifedisk d. On the shaft 6 there is looselymounted a body 0, preferably tapering upward, leaving a certain annularspace freeabove the knives, and provided with wing-shaped 8o maindriving-shaft g, located above or below the member 0, with the aid of aworm is and worm-wheel ithe body 0 is set in rotation in a directionopposite to that of the knife-disk d, the speed being preferably aboutone-tenth of the velocity of the knife-disk.

The check-pieces or ribs I) spread at the bottom over the entire cuttingbreadth of the knife-disk and in consequence of the spiral form take theposition shown at f in Fig. 2*,

whereby on rotation the beets lying before the ribs are pressed againstthe knife-disk. The ribs toward the top may be lower in height andgradually diminish to the level of the body 0.

The novel effect produced by the rotary m0 tion of the checks or wingsis that choking of the receptacle through wedging together of the beets,with the consequent formation of hollow spaces, is prevented. By reasonof the said rotary motion, moreover, the cuttingsurface of theknife-disk is better utilized. In consequence of the spiral arrangementof the checks the beets, owing to the pressure acting above theknife-disk, are prevented from ascending and from being whirled upward.On the contrary, they will always be uniformly conducted to the knives,so that the efficiency of the machine is greatly superior to that ofprior apparatus.

Figs. 3 and 4 show other arrangements which may be adopted for eifecting retrograde 7 rotation of the body a, the check-pieces being providedwith spur-teeth m, Fig. 3, or with bevel teeth 0, Fig. 4, with whichmeshes toothed gearing located externally of the receptacle.

Having thus described my invention, what raaeic I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a vegetable-cutter, the combination with 25 a vertical cylindricalhopper, of abell-shaped shell rotatably arranged in the hopper andprovided with circumferentially spiral blades, said blades graduallydecreasing in size from the bottom upward, an annular knife-disk 30 andat unequal speeds, substantially as and 35 for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WILHELM KoLLMANN.

Witnesses:

OTTO KoNIG, J. A. RITTERSHAUS.

